Franciszek Wagner (English)
Z Historia Wisły
Franciszek Wagner
Płk Franciszek Wagner (August 7, 1880 – January 14, 1975)
Franciszek Wagner was born in Górne Jelenie, Slovakia, to an Austrian family, and received his education in Vienna. He is widely regarded as a key figure in the development of the sports club TS Wisła Zakopane, where he held a leadership role for over six years, and unofficially for almost 20 years starting from 1929. He was also repeatedly elected as one of the vice presidents of TS Wisła. In 1947, Wagner was honored with the title of Honorary President of TS Wisła.
At the age of 21, Wagner joined the Austrian army, serving until 1918. A year later, he acquired Polish citizenship and began serving in the Polish Army. In 1922, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and appointed commander of the 3rd Podhale Rifles Regiment in Bielsko, a post he held until 1927. After retiring from the military in 1928, he formally became president of Wisła Zakopane a year later.
Wagner is remembered as an influential figure in Polish skiing. Historian Wojciech Szatkowski, in a publication marking the 80th anniversary of TS Wisła, credits Wagner with playing a major role in the club’s growth, emphasizing his organizational skills and eye for talent. He was instrumental in bringing many talented athletes to the club, earning the affectionate nickname "Pan Pułkownik" due to his limited fluency in Polish.
Dr. Antoni Poleński, a chronicler of TS Wisła, described Wagner as a unifying figure who brought together the Zakopane branch of Wisła into a cohesive group. Although not an active athlete himself, Wagner was deeply devoted to skiing and skiers. Known for his distinct style—always dressed in black with a cigar in hand—he spent countless hours with athletes and officials, ensuring their needs were met.
Wagner's military background heavily influenced his approach to organizing sporting events, particularly in skiing. His meticulous attention to detail and precise planning earned him respect, especially during the 1939 FIS World Ski Championships in Zakopane, where he led the ski jumping competition. Wagner was praised for his leadership, especially when he took decisive action to halt the competition due to dangerous ice conditions, arranging for workers to improve the safety of the course.
Apart from his involvement in TS Wisła, Wagner also served as president of the Podhale District of the Polish Ski Association, where he championed the construction of ski jumps in Poronin, Nowy Targ, and Szczawnica.
Wagner’s life took a dramatic turn during World War II. After traveling to Hungary in the summer of 1939, he was later interned in a Polish refugee camp and subsequently transferred to Oflag Genzhagen near Berlin in 1944. He returned to Poland in 1945, and soon after, he resumed his role as president of TS Wisła Zakopane. However, the club’s absorption into the state-controlled gwardia system marked the end of his presidency, and he thereafter focused on officiating at sporting events.
Franciszek Wagner passed away in 1975 and is buried in the Nowotarska Cemetery in Zakopane.
Memoirs of Franciszek Wagner. Typewritten manuscript in the TS Wisła collection.
Zakopane, December 5, 1966
Editorial Office of “Tempo”
Kraków, ul. Wielopole 1
In response to your appeal for participation in the competition for a memoir about Wisła, I would like to contribute my modest share in the form of the following memoir:
How I Became a Member of the S.N. Wisła in Zakopane
In 1928, I took over the skiing section of Wisła in Zakopane at the request of Major Stanisław Kempski, a member of the Wisła Kraków Board and the founder of Wisła in Zakopane.
I conditioned taking over the skiing section on the allocation of appropriate grants to support its activities—there was a lack of skiing equipment and clothing.
Our young team of athletes competed in all Zakopane club competitions alongside older competitors like Rozmus, Mietelski, and others.
We purchased skis—both cross-country and jumping skis—for the new team of 30 athletes.
The first results came in the New Targ Championship in 1930, where athletes from all Zakopane clubs, including our Wisła, competed. The championship was won by Ludwik Gabryś.
In 1931, our oldest athlete Eugeniusz Król was the sole representative of Zakopane in Lwów.
The flat race was held on a loop, and at one point it was necessary to turn left on the course, according to the briefing. During the race, about 30 athletes ran right, and 10 athletes ran correctly to the left. Among these ten was our athlete Król, who finished in 1st place, winning a beautiful, valuable trophy (1 meter high). It was a race for the Lwów Championship over 18 km.
At that time, Lwów, with its Carpathian Skiers' Society, was the capital of skiing and had a ski training center at the Sławsk shelter.
It was the first victory of the weaker Zakopane over the then stronger Lwów.
Wisła also began organizing sports events and developing the club. We established 3 branches: in Poronin, Nowy Targ, and Szczawnica, and built ski jumps there. In Zakopane itself, we organized 6 sections, mostly for summer sports: swimming, athletics, football, as well as hockey and table tennis.
Kornel Makuszyński joined the Club at the beginning and took an active part in the club's life as the honorary president of the skiing section.
Since skiing races were not attractive to the public, we organized annual obstacle races, with the winner receiving the Makuszyński Cup. These events were held on Lipki, with the start and finish among the crowds in front of the public. The cup was first won by Szostak, then Orlewicz twice, and Górski three times permanently.
In 1933, Wisła celebrated a great occasion. For the first time, a Wisła member, Izydor Łuszczek, won the Polish Championship, breaking the dominance of other Zakopane clubs. This was our first major victory in skiing. The same athlete, a year later, at the international competition in Innsbruck, won second place in ski jumping, ahead of a whole array of international competitors. It was a significant event as the first place was taken by Sigmund Ruud with a rarely achieved style score of 19.5 out of a possible 20. Łuszczek unexpectedly received 19 points.
In 1936, Leopold Silberman arrived in Zakopane from Oxford, who had participated in alpine skiing competitions in Switzerland. He joined our club and taught athletes alpine skiing techniques such as downhill and slalom, and our management was initiated into the art of organizing competitions, primarily slalom. Later, we involved other Zakopane sports clubs in these teachings.
The first championship won by Wisła in alpine and classical skiing had both humorous and risky aspects. At that time, we did not have good jumpers, only good cross-country skiers and alpine skiers. In these conditions, a weak jumper, even a very weak one, had to participate in the Wisła team. He jumped twice with falls. Only on the third attempt did he land after covering some distance and, after falling, got up and continued. The judging committee deemed the jump valid and important, awarding us victory in the four-man race.
In 1936, during the Polish Championship, where Wisła had several school athletes participating, it happened that Giewont, a high school student, became the vice-champion of Poland. He participated despite a school ban. After announcing the result, the school administration deemed it appropriate to expel this student, who turned out to be Becker (competing under a pseudonym), from school. This caused a great stir in the club and other skiing clubs. The Wisła club management did everything possible, and it even led to intervention from the highest state authorities. After a few days, the school principal officially and ceremoniously readmitted Becker to the school.
In 1937, we sent our best four-man race athlete, Marian Orlewicz, to the World Academic Championships in Austria, where he won the world academic championship despite the strong competition from both northern and central European countries. It should be noted that the northern countries favored classic skiing at that time, while the central countries preferred alpine skiing. We, who practiced both alpine and classical skiing, achieved better scores and won the championship.
In 1939, with another invitation to the World Academic Championships in Norway—Lillehammer—Orlewicz had to defend his title. We also sent another strong competitor in this event, Mieczysław Wnuk. And here was a great surprise: Mieczysław Wnuk won the academic world championship, while Orlewicz became the vice-champion of the world. It is also worth mentioning that in 1939, Wnuk won the Polish Championship in Zakopane.
These are my memories. In a relatively short period, not even 10 years from when I arrived in Zakopane and began working in skiing, we created a strong club with a large number of athletes, as many as 128, well-equipped with sports equipment and with a great position in sports. Unfortunately, the war interrupted our work.
Today, after so many years, we still recall our various experiences, sometimes tragic, sometimes comical— as it happens in organizations of this type. During this period, the Wisła Club won 4 championships, including 2 Polish Championships and 2 World Academic Championships, not to mention several relay championships, e.g., to Morskie Oko.
Franciszek Wagner on Makuszyński
— The sports society “Wisła — Kraków” had an autonomous branch in Zakopane. The branch practiced skiing. Makuszyński stormed us with new members. Feeling that his popular persona acted attractively, that it helped in popularizing “Wisła” and that “Wisła” could benefit from his presence even without words, he attended not only the competitions but also almost all the events that “Wisła” organized to strengthen the club’s funds.
— You made him — I interject — an honorary member.
— Could it be otherwise? He was an honorary member of the Zakopane branch of “Wisła” since 1930 or 1931. From 1933, he was the honorary president. He did not limit the honorary presidency to the title. On the contrary: his helpfulness was enormous. The motto of Makuszyński was to look everywhere and achieve as much as possible. It was pleasant to watch how our honorary president won the hearts of the public. When he approached, voices grew: “Makuszyński is coming!” When he was among us, someone new would notice him and express joy: “Here is Makuszyński!”
— With the war, did your activities stop? — I ask in turn.
— They stopped. The Nazis dissolved all sports clubs and confiscated the equipment. When “Wisła” revived in 1945, we had no equipment at all. Makuszyński took action. He called on the public for donations, collected equipment, and even gave money. He collected equipment not only for “Wisła” but also for schools. I still have at home a poetic appeal by Makuszyński, very heartfelt and fruitful. I will show it to you. How many signatures there are, how many financial declarations!
Publications Online
"I Remember Romantic Skiing... Memories of Marian Woyna-Orlewicz," Wojciech Szatkowski (excerpt from an interview)
In the article "I Remember Romantic Skiing...", Wojciech Szatkowski quotes the distinguished skier Marian Orlewicza:
“‘Wisła’ Kraków decided to create its Ski Section here in Zakopane. This matter was taken up by Colonel Wagner, then the commander of the 3rd Podhale Rifle Regiment. He was proposed to undertake its organization and management in Zakopane. He agreed, came to Zakopane, and organized it. He was a phenomenal person, and his attitude towards skiing was very warm. He was very systematic in what he did. He was also an honorable man. He was the first in Zakopane to develop the standards needed for organizing major sporting events. He organized these competitions, determined how many judges, marshals, and 'tracers' were needed. He organized the whole event just like in the military. Everything was described and prepared. When the FIS 1939 took place in Zakopane, he was the driving force behind organizing these events to make sure everything ran smoothly. He was characterized by colossal accuracy in everything he did. When there were meetings of the club's board, he always pointed out errors and even made charts on what needed to be changed in the club.
He was so honorable that if he gave his word, it could not be broken. There was an incident which he later laughed about and told us about during a meeting at his home. He talked about a certain manager of the Zakopane 'Strzelec' who had enticed two members of our relay team. An argument ensued between him and Wagner, and since Colonel Wagner was a military man, he challenged him to a duel and sent his seconds. He said: 'You’ll see he’ll run away because he’ll be scared.' And indeed, that’s what happened.
In the early days of 'Wisła', there were no funds. But Colonel Wagner had a large pension and bought sports equipment from his own pocket, while he himself wore torn shoes and trousers. Eventually, the club prodded him into buying new clothes. He was a huge philanthropist—skiing was his greatest passion, indeed, his life. The club also organized things in its own way, dividing skiers into three groups. The first, best group received new equipment, the second group got older, used gear, and the third group received the oldest.
He organized most of the major events in Zakopane, not only skiing competitions but also horse races on Równia Krupowa and obstacle races. He was the 'brain' behind these events. He worked hard and was very modest. He attended all the competitions, and I think he was an ideal figure who dedicated his life to skiing.
After World War I, the Colonel stayed in Poland. He was the commander of the 3rd Podhale Rifle Regiment. In the army, he developed sports, and every good athlete from Zakopane was 'drafted' into his regiment. The Colonel also maintained military discipline. During inter-regimental competitions, the 3rd Regiment always won. During a football match, if he saw a private score a goal, he would shout: 'Senior shooter, second goal!'... and promoted him during the game. Athletes from Zakopane, like Zdzisiek Motyka, Karol Szostak, and Józef Kuraś, improved their skills up to the level of Polish championships in the 3rd regiment. The Colonel was also very cheerful. Once a week, he organized meetings at his home, attended by athletes and club officials. He received the Virtuti Militari Cross for his merits and jokingly said: 'To this day, I don’t know why they gave me that cross!' During World War I, he remained at his post during an attack and continued to fire until the end. He caused the enemy to retreat and for that, he received the Virtuti Militari Cross. He also told us about an officer-sadist in his regiment who tortured a young soldier, and Wagner expelled him from the regiment. In the presence of the whole regiment, he slapped the officer, tore off his epaulettes, demoted him to private, and sent him to a penal regiment. He was very moved by the dead young soldier and said it was his fault.
The Colonel said goodbye to me after the outbreak of the war, in September 1939. He said he had to leave Zakopane and went over the mountains to Hungary. There, as far as I know, he was the commander of a camp for Polish refugees who were continuing to move west. The Hungarians looked the other way. After the war, we held a club meeting and wanted to reactivate 'Wisła'. We informed 'Wisła' Kraków and organized Sports Days. I was chosen as the acting president, but we all waited for Colonel Wagner. The Colonel returned in poor condition—he had lost everything—but he continued to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the club.
In 1950, there was a reorganization of sports, and Colonel Wagner could no longer be the president of the club because he was a pre-war colonel. 'Wisła' came under the care of the Federation of the Guard and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The president had to be elected by office. There was a verification of coaches and athletes—a sort of 'clean-up'. The Colonel had to leave then, but we visited him often, and he asked us what was happening in the club. He advised and stayed interested in 'Wisła' and skiing. He also occasionally attended club meetings, but during this period, he was persecuted as a pre-war senior officer. He complained about this. To this day, we are impressed by him as an ideal activist. He taught us a lot and was an unforgettable man. Colonel Wagner passed away in January 1975."
Other
In 1922, a skiing section was established within the 3rd Podhale Rifles Regiment, commanded by Major Władysław Ziętkiewicz. The initiator of this "sports club" was Colonel Franciszek Wagner. Athletes from Szczyrk represented Poland at the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix in 1924. [source: sokolszczyrk.skijumping.pl]
It is worth recalling the history of ski jumping in Szczawnica. (...) At the turn of 1931 and 1932, discussions were held with Colonel Franciszek Wagner, an activist from the Zakopane TS "Wisła," which led to the establishment of an independent sports club in Szczawnica in 1933 from the ski section of the PTT branch. Czesław Winiarski became its first president. By this time, the section had completed the construction of the ski jump on Jarmuta with a landing in Malinów. Significant assistance was provided by the 1st Podhale Rifles Regiment from Nowy Sącz. In the inaugural ski jumping competition, participants included local competitors as well as guests from Zakopane, Krynica, Nowy Sącz, and... Lviv! [source: e-gory.pl]
Cup from the Franciszek Wagner Memorial
The Cup from the Franciszek Wagner Memorial
The Cup from the Franciszek Wagner Memorial
The Cup from the Franciszek Wagner Memorial
The Cup from the Franciszek Wagner Memorial
The life of Izydor Łuszczek was closely connected with skiing and "white madness." He was also a top competitor in the Zakopane club "Wisła." In 1929, young Izydor (...) took his steps to Zakopane's "Wisła," specifically to Colonel Franciszek Wagner, who was then the president of the club. The colonel, not too eager to accept a new athlete, seeing a slender youth, asked: - What's your name? The reply was: - Izydor. Oh, I haven't had one of those yet! Additionally, in the club, Olek Rozmus (Aleksander Rozmus) announced the new athlete to Colonel Wagner, stating that Izydor was good at skiing and ski jumping. Colonel Wagner agreed to accept Izydor into the club, and he became a member of the Ski Section of "TS Wisła - Zakopane." Soon, Colonel Wagner realized he had made the right choice, as Izydor proved to be a great talent, especially in combined events (classical combination - skiing and jumping - W.S) and ski jumping. Moreover, not long after, Colonel Wagner, known as the "hunter of young talents," praised Izydor highly, stating that he had discovered an excellent competitor for "Wisła"... [source: skijumping.pl]
